Online school is back in session — and it's getting a failing grade

Plus, Omicron's surge among seniors and a call to vaccinate pregnant Ontarians [The Star] First Up [By Lex Harvey] By Lex Harvey Good morning. Not to brag, but I got Wordle in three yesterday (if you’re confused, [check out Wednesday’s story about the popular word game](. Here’s the latest on how parents and kids are coping with virtual school, what an uptick in Omicron cases among seniors could mean for hospitals, and the push for pregnant people to get vaccinated. DON’T MISS Monica Filitis/Supplied Photo education [Weary parents and kids are grappling with Ontario’s last-minute switch to online school]( Families have been thrown back into juggling their children’s schooling and their own jobs after the province ordered schools online until at least Jan. 17. While some parents are relieved to keep their kids at home as COVID-19 cases hit record highs, many are overwhelmed, frustrated and angry that their children’s education is being disrupted once again. [Here’s how parents and kids fared on the first day](. - Context: Ontario children have already spent at least 26 weeks in virtual classrooms. Advocates are sounding the alarm about the damage it’s doing to kids’ mental health. - Go deeper: “My kids are not the same kids they were three years ago. They’ve kind of lost the … kidlike sparkle — the carefree sparkle,” said one York region mom. “They’re stressed, they’re sad, they’re depressed. It’s not the way it should be.” - Another angle: [Here’s how employers are helping parents survive another sudden round of school closures](. Steve Russell/The Star Viral transmission [Omicron is only now hitting seniors — here’s why that could spell trouble for hospitals]( More and more Ontarians over 60 are getting Omicron, and experts are worried surging infections among seniors could put a strain on hospitals that the province won’t be able to weather, Kenyon Wallace and Ed Tubb report. With COVID rampant in the community, elderly people — particularly those with pre-existing conditions — are most likely to face the brunt of a health system that’s already hard hit by spiking hospitalizations and staffing shortages. [Here’s what you need to know](. - By the numbers: More than 92 per cent of Ontarians 60 and up have gotten two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but, as of Wednesday, just 58 per cent have received a booster. - What we know: Age is one of the largest risk factors for serious outcomes from COVID. More than 90 per cent of Ontario’s COVID deaths have been in patients over 60. - Why it matters: Omicron is less likely to cause severe illness than previous variants, but the sheer number of vulnerable seniors getting sick is likely to mean an increase in hospitalizations, even if the per case rate of patients needing care is lower. Jenny Evans/Getty Images vaccination [More babies are being admitted to hospital with COVID-19, triggering calls for pregnant people to get vaccinated ]( Four major hospitals issued a joint plea for pregnant Ontarians to get vaccinated after a “disturbing, potential new trend” of hospitalizations among infants in recent weeks, May Warren reports. Science shows that expecting moms who get jabbed are able to pass their antibodies onto their babies, protecting them for their first few months of life. [Here’s what we know](. - By the numbers: In Ontario, 38 children under five — including babies — and nine children aged five to 11 have been hospitalized with COVID over the past weeks. One child under five has recently died. - Go deeper: One York region emergency doctor said he’s seen triple the number of kids coming into the ER compared to previous waves. - Now what? Experts say vaccines are still the best way to prevent kids from getting seriously ill from the virus. Children five and up are now eligible for the vaccine and clinics are being asked to prioritize pregnant women for shots. WHAT ELSE Why are we still scrambling for boosters? When will the crunch end? [Here’s the situation in Ontario right now](. Doug Ford is being [urged to call in the military]( as Omicron threatens to overwhelm Ontario hospitals. [Should you swab your nose and your throat]( for a more accurate at-home COVID test? [Pay rent or buy food]( are facing a gut-wrenching choice this lockdown. Tennis star [Novak Djokovic is fighting deportation in Australia]( after officials rejected his COVID vaccine medical exemption. Toronto home prices [soared by almost 25 per]( cent in 2021. POV Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo [“Donald Trump’s supporters couldn’t overturn the election, but they still might destroy America.” Edward Keenan looks at the legacy of the Capitol riot, one year on.]( CLOSE-UP Philip Fong/AFP TOKYO, JAPAN: Journalists and bystanders inspect a tuna bought jointly by Michelin-starred sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki for 16.9 million yen (145,290 USD) at the Toyosu fish market's New Year auction on January 5, 2022. Thanks for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_97616). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. [The Star]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. 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